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In The Heart Of Minas Gerais, Serra Da Saudade Has Held The Title Of Smallest Municipality In The Country For Over A Decade. With Only 856 Inhabitants, The City Impresses With Its Tranquility, Its Relationship Between Neighbors, And Its Absence Of Violence
Serra da Saudade, in the Midwest of Minas Gerais, holds a curious title: it is the smallest municipality in Brazil by number of inhabitants. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the city has 856 residents in 2025, two more than the previous year.
For twelve years, the municipality has held this position, surpassing Borá (SP), which previously led the demographic ranking. Despite the modest number of residents, the territorial area of Serra da Saudade is not small.
With 335.6 km², the territory is slightly larger than Belo Horizonte, the state capital, which has 331.4 km².
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The per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was R$ 28.3 thousand in 2021, and in 2024, municipal gross revenues surpassed R$ 31 million.
In July 2025, the monthly quota of the Municipal Participation Fund (FPM) totaled just over R$ 1 million, according to data from the Transparency Portal.
Close Administration And Trust Routine
Emancipated in 1962, Serra da Saudade celebrates its anniversary on March 1st. Mayor Neusa Maria Ribeiro (PP) is in her third term and received 90% of the votes in the last election.
She explains that the small size favors coexistence and management.
“Serra da Saudade is small, but everyone knows each other here. This proximity helps us govern in a more humane way. I can venture to say that I know all the residents,” says the mayor.
The city consists of two neighborhoods: downtown and São Geraldo, spread across 30 streets. On Rua Rio de Janeiro, for example, there is only one residence.
The municipality has two supermarkets — one of them has been operating for 60 years — that still use credit accounts.
There is also a bakery, a lottery house, and seven bars. Pharmacies and gas stations do not exist, but the city hall provides medication, and the nearest supply is in Estrela do Indaiá, 15 kilometers away.
Simplicity And Neighborhood Relationships
At Maria Avelina’s restaurant, the local cuisine is the star. “I used to be a lunch lady. There are few customers, but the peace of living here is priceless,” says the cook, who prepares meals for the elderly and local workers.
Doctor Guilherme Neves de Azevedo, coming from Belo Horizonte, also feels the difference in daily life. He works at the only health clinic in the city.
“We have intimacy with the people; the adaptation was not difficult.” There are no waiting lines, and specialized care takes place in neighboring cities, such as Dores do Indaiá.
Serra Da Saudade: The City Where Homicides Have Not Occurred In 60 Years
The tranquility of Serra da Saudade impresses even the Military Police. Lieutenant Fabrício Aparecido da Silva states that the last homicide recorded was about six decades ago.
“Last year, there were two registered thefts. This year we had one cell phone theft at a party, but we recovered the device. There have been no robberies recorded for years either,” says the officer.
The feeling of safety, according to him, comes from the cooperation between residents and the security forces. “Every time a different vehicle or person arrives, residents inform the police. We approach kindly, just to find out the reason for the visit,” the lieutenant adds.
Technology And Outdoor Coexistence
Even with few inhabitants, Serra da Saudade offers free Wi-Fi in the central square. However, life there happens more in the real world than in the digital one. Conversations on the sidewalks, lasting friendships, and family ties mark daily life.
“What we have here is coexistence. We grew up in front of today’s elderly. Our children grow up together; we are one big family,” comments Ivan Hernane de Oliveira, the municipal secretary of Education, Sports, Leisure, and Tourism.
The Meaning Of The Name And The Indigenous Legend
The name Serra da Saudade carries a poetic and melancholic origin. According to a local legend, in the 18th century, a young indigenous woman living in the region awaited news from her family in Bahia.
She sent a letter with the help of a traveler, but time and distance caused the response to arrive almost illegible.
The only legible word was “saudade.” The young woman, overwhelmed with sadness, died waiting for news, and the term came to name the place.
Railway, Progress, And Emancipation Of Serra Da Saudade
The development of the region began with the arrival of the Paracatu Railway. In 1925, the inauguration of the Melo Viana station boosted the settlement of land donated by José Zacarias Machado.
Over time, commerce thrived, and the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was built on land donated by Maria Praxedes Assunção.
The railway transported coffee, wood, cattle, and diamonds, which fueled the local economy. Restaurants and inns sprang up, and the famous Pensão da Barra became a meeting point for travelers.
Later, the construction of the Belo Horizonte–Uberaba highway accelerated progress and even attracted a visit from Getúlio Vargas.
However, World War II interrupted part of the works, keeping the railway as the main route until 1969, when it was deactivated.
A year earlier, in 1963, Serra da Saudade had achieved its political and administrative emancipation, officially becoming a municipality in Minas Gerais.
Brazilian Population Tends To Fall After 2042
According to the IBGE, Brazil has 213.4 million inhabitants in 2025. Among the 5,571 municipalities, 2,079 registered population decline, equivalent to 37.3% of the total. Only 122 grew above 2%.
The projection is that the national population will peak at 220.4 million in 2041 and begin to decrease starting in 2042. By 2070, the estimate is 199.2 million inhabitants.
Currently, São Paulo leads the ranking with 11.9 million residents, followed by Rio de Janeiro (6.7 million) and Brasília (3 million).
Among the least populous in the country are Serra da Saudade (MG) with 856 inhabitants, Anhanguera (GO) with 913, Borá (SP) with 932, Araguainha (MT) with 997, and Nova Castilho (SP) with 1,072.
Amid these numbers, Serra da Saudade remains a symbol of tranquility and community — a rare example of a town where everyone knows each other by name and longing still defines the soul of the place.
With information from Gazeta do Povo.
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